Church/Monastery in Karditsa (Lake Plastira)

Messovouni in the municipality of Argithea, and at a height of 1050 meters, features the Church of Agios Nikolaos, as well as the Monastery of the Birth of the Virgin Mary dating from the 17th century.

The Church of the Twelve Apostles is 700 metres south-east of the village and is the only church of Pirgos Ithomis. Built as a basilica in the 19th century, it boasts a wood-carved altar screen crafted by woodworkers from Metsovo in 1850.

In Fanari, 15 km northwest of Karditsa, is the church of Agios Seraphim, built in 1930. Within its grounds is a small building at the site of his martyrdom and where the saint's skull is safeguarded. The church of Saint John, built in 1886, features a carved wooden altar screen and a noteworthy bell tower.

Fourteen kilometres from Karditsa at an altitude of 350 metres, the picturesque village of Kanalia on the foothills of the Agrafa Mountains is home to the Church of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin with a domed basilica, built in 1894.

The village of Agios Akakios in Ithomi, 10 km from Fanari boasts the church of Agios Nikolaos, with a single chambered basilica from the 14th century. Some original wall paintings have been preserved. Not far is a small cave used as a religious shrine and hermitage of Agios Akakios.

Therino is a traditional village 10 km northwest of Argithea. At an altitude of 870 metres, it is home to the Monastery of Agios Nikolaos which boasts a carved wooden altar screen with icons that date from around 1850.

Gelanthi is a village three kilometres from the township centre of Mouzaki. The Chapel of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin, built in 1813, possesses a characteristic eight-sided dome and imposing bell-tower that dates from 1889.

The historic village of Petrilo is situated 30 km southwest of Mouzaki at an altitude of 1200 metres. Nearby, the church or the Assumption of the Holy Virgin built in 1884 in Krania has a cross-beamed dome and is worth discovering.

The church of the Birth of Christ in the village of Rossi was built in the 17th century (1662), featuring exceptional wall paintings and wooden carved altar screen of Agios Pantelemon with important icons.

Kedros is a village at an altitude of 567 metres as we leave the Plain of Thessaly for the Agrafa Mountains. The Church of Agios Athanassios there dates from 1777 and has been designated as a cultural monument.

Dafnospilia in the municipality of Kallifoni is 17 kilometres from Karditsa at an altitude of 570 metres. In the Church of the Holy Trinity there is a wood-carved altar of great historic value. The skull of Saint Gregory of the Akragandinon (Bishop of the Akragandinon of Sicily) is safeguarded in the church.

There are many churches in Vathylakkos. The Church of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin within the village was built in 1777. The altar screen of the church has special historical significance as it was brought from Constantinople.

The church in the centre of the village is dedicated to the Birth of the Holy Virgin, and the village celebrates its Holy Day on the 8th of September. The church has a woodcarved altar screen of walnut form the 18th century. The skull of Agios Trifonas is safeguarded within this church.

The Church of Agios Giorgos on the village square of Rendina has a single chamber with wall frescos from 1719 and an exceptional wood-carved altar screen. The Church of Agios Nikolaοs, built in 1719, lies in the centre of the village within a grove of plane trees underneath an imposing rocky promontory.

The Church of the Ascension of the Holy Virgin, a very old building, contains an altar screen dated 1659 and sections of the original frescos. Also noteworthy at the entrance to the village is the chapel of Agios Dimitrios, built in 1662.

Vraggiana or Small Vraggiana (to differentiate it from another in a different region) is in the Argithea/Acheloos district. Murals from the 17th century at the churhc of Transfiguration (Metamorphosis) church are worth seeing. Also note the church of Agios Dimitrios built in 1892 by stonemasons from the Tzoumerka area.

Krioneri is a village sited on the beautiful plateau of Nevropoli next to Lake Plastira. The nearby Monastery of Agios Giorgos in the woods is worth a visit, so is the Palaiohorafa recreation area for a picnic.

The village of Vlassi (Athamanon Community), 27 kilometers from Mouzaki, is home to the Monastery of the Birth of the Virgin built between1600 and 1620. Note the vaulted ceiling chapel with a large portico on the west. The original carved wood altar remains intact and its earlier murals date from 1644.

The monastery of the Holy Trinity of Siaika lies in Karoplessi (Itamos region). The original church from 1540 remains, with a cross-beamed roof and with wall paintings from 1641. The skull of Agios Stilianos Paflagonos is kept within the monastery. The icon of the Holy Trinity dates from 1528.

Filakti lies on the steep hills of the Voutsikaki Mountains in Nevropolis-Agrafon at 1200 metres. Tthe 17th century monastery still has the original church with a portico on its western side and an interior hall. The carved wood altar screen from 1852 and 17th century frescoes are the pride of the village.

Morfovouni, 18 km southwest of Karditsa, boasts the Monastery of the Holy Trinity just 2km southeast of the village. It contains a church of the style of Mount Athos built in 1858 on the site of an older one. It also functioned also as a sanatorium between 1938 and 1943, before being burned by the Italians.

The Monastery of Kosti is found near Stefaniada (Municipality of Athamanon), set around Lake Stefaniada. Nearby, Koubourinana also houses the Church of the Holy Virgin (rebuilt on the site of an older church in 1930) and the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior (built between 1600 and 1650) among others.

Near Kastania within a fir tree forest, on the eastern slopes of the mountain of Pirgoulis at 1000 metres and 3km from Mouha, lies the old monastery of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin. The original church of Agios Trifonas is still standing.

The Monastery of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin is 6km east of Rendina in a lovely oak forest. Built in 1579 in the Mount Athos style with a dome, portico and two churches, it has frescos from the 17th century and an altar screen of carved wood, covered by gold leaf.

Sarantaporos, near the village of Neraida in the municipality of Itamos, is home to the legendary monastery of the Birth of the Holy Virgin or Monastery of Spinasas dating from 1608. The only original part of the monastery left is the church with wooden roof and religious murals of 1651 showing its abbot.

The village of Koubouriana within the municipality of Athamanon lies an altitude of 1050 meters. The area's most notable religious is the 17th century Monastery of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin, also known as the Spilias (Cave) lying at an altitude of 800 meters.

Drakotripa is a village in the Mouzaki region. At a height of 800 metres, the monastery of the Holy Trinity affords a view of Mount Karavoula and Mount Timpanos. The church with notable wall frescos is still standing, built like the monasteries of Mount Athos with its portico on the western side.

The village of Vlassi in the Athamanon region at an altitude of 1,100 meters boasts an impressive view of the monastery. Vlassi is 27 kilometers from Mouzaki. At the local museum, religious artefacts from the church are on display as well as original icons from the altar screen.

Mavromati, 30 km from Karditsa and deep within the forests and 2km before one arrives at the village, is the remarkable nunnery of Saint George of the Mavromati, built in the Mount Athos style. It was built in about 1550 and its wall paintings date from 1657.

Taking its name from the rock that was carved out to host the monastery, Panagia Pelekiti was constructed in 1480 AD. It houses two priceless relics that are placed in the monastery's two churches, Panagia Faneromeni (Virgin Mary) and Analipsi (Ascension).

This monastery in Eastern Argithea commands a stunning location built on a massive rock some 800 meters high. A small church from the 16th century and one built in 1736 are inside. The monastery played a role in the revolution and liberation of Greece.